Feeding an almost 3 year old

[poseys]

We are going to DLR in September and my daughter will be three in October. Am I correct that we can either buy her meals or she can eat off our plate? What has everyone else done? If we were going to do something like a Fantasmic dining package, would I have to pay for her meal so she can have a seat? What about character meals? TIA!

 

[Malcon10t]

At character meals, she is under 3, so she eats off your plate. At table service meals, she can eat off your plate or you can order her a kid's meal. Dining package, again, she can eat off your plate if you so wish.

It really depends on your child. My granddaughter has eaten off the kids' menu since she was 18 mos. For us, it allowed her food she would prefer and enough to fill her up.

 

[figment_jii]

At buffets and AYCTE locations, children under three are free. So they can eat whatever they want from the buffet or family style platters without being charged. At a la carte TS locations, children under three can either eat of your plate or you can order them something if you'd like. In terms of the dining packages, you do not have to order them a separate kid's meal to qualify for the dining package ticket. They should be issue one (or may not even need one because they are under three and therefore do not need a park ticket anyway).

 

[CassieF]

I frequently go with an almost 3 year old and often we will share or get her a kids meal. I love the kids power pack, available at most counter service locations. It has yogurt, apples, carrots, goldfish, a banana and milk, for like $6. What she doesn't eat at the time makes a great snack later!

 

[Malcon10t]

Just a note - Always include her in your reservation count. Just tell them 2 adults and 1 toddler. She will need a seat at the restaurants.

 

[ktlm]

We took my DD to WDW 2 months before she turned 3. We ordered her meals from the kids menus (except for at the buffet meals). She was a picky eater and I was not about to tailor my food choices to what she might like. I don't know if it is the same at DL, but at WDW if they are under 3, they would bring them out a plate of buttered noodles at TS meals-- let's just say that DD was not impressed with the sauce-less buttered noodles- the first time we tried it after she took one taste we went ahead and ordered her a kid's meal.

 

[beachdreamr1229]

We have taken our 5-year-old since he was 2 and are currently starting to take out 1 year olds regularly. My oldest has been getting his own off the kids meal since he was 2. The check meals are small and full of healthy snack foods, so that's one option, or a full size meal for that matter, that you can then save some of for later. There are toddler meals at counter service restaurants, too. This is usually mac n cheese, and it's a very small portion. My 1-year-olds each finish off one of those, so don't count on the toddler meals to be enough for an older toddler/preschooler.

At table service, if it's a buffet style, make sure the get the reservation for the right number, but your child can eat off your plate. If they're individual dishes, it depends on whether you're willing to eat something your kid would want or if you would prefer to spend the money on a kids meal and enjoy your own.

 

[NiceOneSimba]

It's been a long time (nearly 4 years), but when we took our not-quite-3-year-old to Ariel's Grotto she was free and they had a special "toddler menu" for kids under 3. This was free. Ariel's is the only non-buffet character meal, so maybe someone else who has been there recently can confirm that they still do this.

She shouldn't need a seat or FP for Fantasmic (because she doesn't need a ticket to anything if she's under 3), but you will need to include her in your dining reservation so she can have a seat at the restaurant table. I would honestly call Disney Dining to see what your options are for her. I would suspect they may do something like they did at Ariel's. If not, you should be able to order off the regular kids menu for her, since she doesn't need a fastpass.

The toddler meals at the quick service places are quite small. My DD really liked the power pack or whatever it's called, with lots of little snacks, and the mac and cheese was good (but the toddler meal is no bigger than 1/3 cup). We didn't do any other TS when she was that young, so I can't comment on what they do there.

 

[lovebug33]

Whatever you do, don't get the chicken and rice toddler meal. It was bland and gross. I eat anything and everything and I wouldn't eat that!

 

[ClaraOswald]

We were just there with a 16 month old. At some places, we just gave him food off of our plates. Or we'd combine some of our food with a toddler meal. The toddler meal we ordered was just applesauce and then mac and cheese in a cup about the size of the applesauce (so..maybe 4 ounces?) Definitely not a well rounded meal at all. But combined with our food, it was okay. (The chicken and rice at Rancho del Zocalo was awful though.) Sometimes we'd order him a kids meal too. But they often came with carrots or apple slices which he is too young for so we'd ask for applesauce instead.

We didn't do any character meals or anything. But we did eat at Big Thunder BBQ. He slept through the meal. But if he'd been awake, he could have eaten for free. They brought us a plate for him.

 

[Lauren in NC]

Never had the chicken and rice, but the bean and cheese burrito at Rancho del Zocalo is good! I've eaten it myself after my toddler decided he wanted to eat my meal, lol! The power pack, as others mentioned above, is great for toddlers who are too busy watching everything else to eat. We kept doling out the various snacks while we were walking around with him in the stroller.